Multiple container package



Dec. 6, 1960 1'. F. BRENNAN ETAL 2,963,194

MULTIPLE CONTAINER PACKAGE Filed Feb. 7, 1958 MULTIPLE CNTAIN'ER PACKAGE Filed Feb. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 713,985

6 Claims. (Cl. 220-23.83)

The present invention relates to a container package comprising a pair of containers clamped together in endto-end relation as a unitary structure and has particular reference to an improved clamping ring for locking the containers against displacement from each other.

An object of the invention is to provide a multiple container package in which one container may be easily attached to another container in substantially permanent relation for the purposes of promotional sales handling of related or unrelated products desired to be sold together or one given as a premium with the sale of the other.

Another object is to provide a clamping ring for holding the containers together, the ring being of such a construction that it may be secured by the usual can making practice and machinery, to the end seam of a container for shipment with the container as an integral part thereof for subsequent use by the promoter in attaching another container to produce the container package.

Another object is to provide such a clamping ring that is formed to permit the easy attachment of the second container thereto by a mere insertion of the end of the second container into the ring and is further formed to lock the second container against displacement so that it cannot be removed except by breakage of the ring to prevent sale of the containers separately.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container package embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a clamping ring utilized in the container package shown in Fig. l; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional views of adjacent corners of the containers shown in Fig. 1 secured together by the clamping ring shown in Fig. 2 to produce the container package, the views being taken substantially along vertical planes indicated by the respective lines 3 3, 4 4 in Fig. 2.

As a preferred and exemplary embodiment of the instant invention the drawing discloses a container package comprising two separate cans or containers 11, 12 arranged in end-to-end relation, i.e. one on top of the other endwise, and secured together against displacement by a clamping ring 14. The containers 11, 12 are conventional sheet material containers comprising tubular bodies having end closures permanently secured thereto in suitable end seams 15, 16 respectively, which ordinarily project outwardly beyond the bodies, such as the well known double seam shown in the drawing. As shown in the drawing the lower container 12 is greater in diametrical dimensions than the upper container 11, but the invention is equally well adapted to containers of equal diameters if desired.

The clamping ring 14 surrounds and engages the ad- Patcnt C) ICC jacent end seams 15, 16 of the two containers 11, 12 and is constructed in such a manner that by the use of ordinary can making machinery it can be secured, against displacement, to one of the containers, preferably the upper end of the lower container 12. The ring 14 is also constructed to accept the lower end of the upper container 11 by a mere endwise insertion of the upper container 11 into the ring. Once inserted into the ring, the upper container 11 cannot be removed. It is substantially permanently locked to the lower container 12 and can only be released by breakage of the ring. The clamping ring 14 is thus a locking ring as distinguished from a mere holding or tie ring from which the containers may be readily released.

Thus through the use of such a clamping ring 14 attached to one of the containers, the other of the containers may be readily assembled therewith to produce'the desired package of any combination of products, by the promoter, packer, or store keeper without the use of tools, the resulting package being a unitary structure that cannot be divided except by breakage of the ring.

For these purposes, the clamping ring 14 preferably is a narrow horizontally disposed substantially flat member adapted to seat against the top of the end seam 16 of the lower container 12 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Intermediate its outer and inner peripheries, the ring 14 preferably is provided with an annular reenforcing bead 21. At its outer periphery, the ring 14 is provided with a depending annular skirt or rim 0r seam engaging portion 22 which extends down over and adjacent the outer periphery of the lower container end seam 16, and is crimped under the seam as shown to substantially permanently secure the ring to the lower container for shipment therewith as an integral part thereof.

At its inner periphery, the ring 14 is provided with a depending annular wall portion comprising a plurality ofl spaced resilient locating tongues 2.4 which surround and yieldably engage against the outer periphery of the end Seam 15 of a container 11 in place on top of the container 12 as shown in Fig. 3. The tongues 24 centralize the upper container 11 relative to the lower container 12 and thus locate the containers in substantially axial alignment. The inner periphery of the ring 14 is also provided with a plurality of reversely bent hook shaped resilient locking tongues 26 (Figs. 2 and 4) which extend inwardly and downwardly toward the center of the ring. These locking tongues 26 are located between the locating tongues 24 (see Fig. 2) and surround and engage edgewise against the body of the upper container 11 at points immediately above or beyond its end seam 15 as best shown in Fig. 4 for substantially permanently locking the upper container 11 in place on the lower container 12.

When the ring 14 is secured to the lower container 12, assembly of the upper container 11 to the lower container is only a simple matter of pushing the lower end of the upper container into the ring. In effecting this assembly, the end seam 15 of the upper container 11 is pushed down against and snapped past the locking tongues 26, the tongues yielding inwardly and immediately snapping back into the original position above the end seam 15 as soon as the seam is below the tongues. Once the seam 15 is beyond the tongues 26, the upper container 11 is locked in place and cannot be removed without destroying the ring. The ring 14 therefore acts as a telltale if broken.

Under normal usage the locked together containers 11, 12 are released for use separately, through ya weakened area 28 in the ring. As shown in Figs. l and 2 this weakened area preferably is dened by a pair of spaced score lines 29 in the ring. A tab 31) connected to the weakened area 28 is provided as a finger hold to tear the ring 14 across, along the score lines, into an oppositely disposed notch 31 at the ring inner periphery and thus facilitate proper removal of the ring to release the containers.

In Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing the top end member of the lower container llisillustrated as a double countersink panel member, This however is merely apreterential showing. The invention works equallywell with the usual single or substantially at single countersink panel end member.

It is thought that the invention and many of it s at tendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes maybe made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacriticing all of its material advantages, thetorm hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. A container package, comprising two cylindrical containers arranged in endwise relation and having adjacently disposed laterally projecting end seams, and an endless locking ring having at one `end thereof an annular skirt secured to and over the end seam of one of said containers to lock said ring against displacement therefrom, said ring having at its other end a plurality of circumferentially spaceddepending tongues surrounding and engaging the outer periphery of the end seam of the other container to locate the latter in axially aligned engagement with said one container, said ring also having at its said other end a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient lockring tongues disposed between said depending tongues, said locking tongues being inclined toward and engaging edgewise circumferentially against said other container immediately inwardly of its end seam to permanently lock said containers together as a unitaryl package.

, 2. A container package of the character dened in claim 1 wherein said ring is provided with ia weakened area, and a tongue attached to said weakened area for rupturin'g the same to open said ring to release said containers for use separately. V

3. A container package, comprising two cylindrical containers ot different diameters disposed in endwise relation and having adjacently disposed laterally spaced and projecting end seams, and an endless locking ring having an annular skirt secured to and over the end seam of the container of greater diameter to lock said ring against displacement therefrom, said ring alsojhaving a plurality of circumferentially spaced depending tongues surrounding and engaging the outer periphery 'of the end seam of the container of lesser diameter to locate the latter centrally of and in axially aligned engagement Withsaid greater diameter container, said ring 'also having a plurality of inwardly extending circumferentially spaced resilient locking tongues disposed between said depending' tongues, said locking tongues being inclined toward and engaging edgewise against said lesser diameter container 4 immediately adjacent its said end seam to permanently lock said containers together as a unitary package.

4. A cylindrical container having a laterally projecting end seam, and a clamping ring having an annular skirt seated on and permanently secured to said end seam, said ring having a plurality of inwardly projecting yieldable snap tongues arranged in circumferentially spaced concentric relation and spaced radially inwardly from said end s earn, said tongues being resiliently engageable with the end seam of a second cylindrical container of less diameter as vthe latter is pushed axially into place past said tongues to obtain axially aligned end-to-'end engagement of said containers, said tongues being disposed for endwise snapping engagement against the cylindrical side wall of said second container immediately adjacent its said end seam when thus pushed into place to clear the end seam from said tongues, thereby locking said second container in permanent end to end engagement with said rst mentioned container.

5. A one piece clamping ring for permanently securingtogether in endwise relation two cylindrical containers having adjacently disposed laterally projecting end seams, saidring having an outer depending cylindrical skirt for enclosing in secured relation the end seam of one of said containers to lock the ring against displacement therefrom, said ring also having a plurality of circumferentially spaced vdepending locating tongues spaced radially inwardly from said skirt for `centrally locating the end seam of the other container when the latter is moved axially into Vsaid ring, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced yieldable locking tongues on said ring disposed between saidpaced locating tongues and projecting radially inwardlyat an angle to the rin'g axis, said locking tongues having Aresilient 'snapping engagement over the end seam of said other container to bear endwise against the side wall thereofnpon axial insertion of said other container intor engagement with the surrounding locating tongues of said ring to permanently secure said containers together in end to end contacting relation.

6. A clamping ring of the 'character defined in claim 5 having a lweakened area, and means for rupturing said area to break said ring and release said containers.

lReferences Cited in the le'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

